The General Hospital School of Nursing

Abstract

The General Hospital School of Nursing has shown striking parallels, in its history and development, with the development of diploma schools of nursing throughout America. It was founded at the turn of the century at a time when diploma schools were growing in number (between 1890 and 1910 the number of such schools in America rose from 35 to 1,069).¹ In its early decades, the development of its nursing education program was closely linked with the hospital’s policies. The board of directors of the hospital passed on

The “General Hospital School of Nursing” and the characteristics of the entering freshman class are described. The entering students are found to be optimistic, idealistic, hopeful and naive. They are primarily local girls, fresh out of high school, who have not aspired to a college education. They come primarily from the lower middle and working classes. They seem typical of girls who are not set on an academic or career path—they want to acquire the skills and knowledge that will enable them to practice nursing, then marry and work, if possible.